the conflict in the island of the blue dolphins is that she is a girl who is not alowed to make weapons, yet she does anyway to survive. she jumped off the boat because her brother had not yet boarded and they were left stranded. soon he dies, attacked by wlid dogs, and she must fend for herself.

Another major conflict occurs when the Aleutes descend on her island. She is naturally afraid of them, especially when they return the second time, because they betrayed their agreement with her father and killed him during a trade transaction. As a result, she sees them as monstrous. When they return to her island, she is forced to hide to survive.